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By Newspot Nigeria National News Desk
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised a red flag over what it describes as a systematic plan by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to transform Nigeria into a “China-styled one party state” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, HURIWA accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC of manipulating key democratic structures, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to secure a predetermined electoral outcome.
The rights group cited recent appointments of alleged APC loyalists as National Commissioners of INEC as a deliberate move to compromise electoral neutrality. “We are witnessing a dangerous descent into a one-party dictatorship where the ruling class is attempting to own every institution of democracy,” HURIWA warned.
Furthering their claim, HURIWA alleged that PDP governors are being “coerced or co-opted” into defecting to the APC to serve as political decoys in a larger scheme of electoral manipulation. “These defections are not organic. They are part of a grand plot to silence the opposition and legitimize what is already a rigged system,” the group asserted.
This development comes amid growing concern within civil society about shrinking democratic space and an increasing number of political figures switching allegiance to the APC ahead of 2027.
HURIWA has called on the National Assembly, the judiciary, civil society organizations, and the international community to act swiftly to defend Nigeria’s multi-party democratic structure. The group likened the current situation to the authoritarian model in China, where opposition is nearly non-existent and the ruling party dominates all tiers of government.
In a broader context, observers have noted that the APC’s internal endorsement of President Tinubu for re-election, combined with targeted political realignments and strategic institutional captures, may fuel fears of democratic backsliding.
Neither the presidency nor the APC has officially responded to HURIWA’s allegations. However, administration allies have previously insisted that electoral reforms and appointments are being carried out within the bounds of the law and in line with national interest.
As political tensions rise, HURIWA’s warning serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of Nigeria’s democratic experiment. The group has urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist what it terms “the slow erosion of electoral choice.”
Newspot Nigeria will continue to provide in-depth coverage and critical updates on this developing story as the nation approaches a pivotal election cycle in 2027.
